Spring-wheel.



Patented Oct. 26, MM5.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. J.. AND'ES0\\1. SPRING WHEEL APPLICATION FILEDV MAY 29,1914.

A. 1. ANDERSON. SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION man mAY29.1914.

Patented 00m. 26, 1915.

av ai .l

amlatina. Annnnson, or CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS.

sirname-WHEEL.

To all wltom tmay concern:

Be itfknown.thatrLARrHR J. ANDERSON,

citizenfz of.:the vUnited States, residing at Chicago Heights, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois; yhave invented certain new andyuseful Improvements in Spring-Wheels, of which the; following is aspecification.

ltyinvention relatestonew and usefulv imp rovementssvin.spring wheels,and as its principal object aimsto yprovide a wheel in whichfth'e spokesconsist'in substantially Y- sliapedlea springs, tothe arms of which ispivotally connected a sectional rim,

p A 'further object is to providea rim which consists in anumber ofsubstantially channel-shaped sections, which are equal in length to thespace between the outer terminails ofthe spokes, and are pivotallyconnectedy to eachother and to the outer terminalsof thespokes,beingarranged to form' an'annular' channel vfor'the reception of avsolid tread memberor shoe,

Astill further object isto provide a novel form ofcoupling member, whichserves not only to pivotally unite and support the adjacent terminals'of the various rim sections, butv also serves to pivotally connect therims to the. outer terminals of the spokes and to .hold the outer -endsof the spoke arms against lateral displacement;

Theabove'fand additional objects are accomplished by suchfme'ans as areillustrated in i the `ricco''mpanying' drawings, described inthnptollowing"specification, and then more particularlypoi-rrt'ed"ou'g-infthe claims, which .are appended hereto and form apart of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein there has*v been illustratedthe'ipreferred ernbodiment ofthis inventionl as it is reduced topractice, Iand throughout the several views of :which similarreferencefnumerals designate correspondingparts, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a; portion of awheel embodying .the preferred form of myinvention; Fig. 2

is a 'fragmentary vertical sectlonal view illustrating the mountingvofthe wheel rim;

Figa 3 is a perspective view of a metallic band or liner which is placedin the channelshaped rim and acts as a locking ring: for` holding anumber ofrtire'protecting clips in positi-onon thefrim; Figj/i' is anenlarged section takenf'onjlthe'line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fi g. 5 is alesjpective i `view showing. the

meeting terminals of Aapair of rimA sections Specification of LettersPatent.

showingr a further modification; Fig. 9, is a 'side elevation of asection of a wheel disclosing a stillfurther modilied form; Fig. 10 is adetail perspective view illustrating a modi- ;ed form of couplingyokeemployed in connection with sections of the rim; Fig. 11 is a detailvperspective view illustrating a modified vform of attaching clipemployed in securing the outer terminals of the spokes to the wheel rim;and Fig. l2 is a detail view of a modified form of coupling yoke. Fig.13 v1s a sectional view showing a. modified form of tire holding means,and Flg. 14: is a fragmentary perspective view ofv a portionof one ofthe base plates employed in that form of fastening device shown in Fig.13.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings,the wheel includes, as its essential features of construction, a hub 10,a `plurality of spokes 11, a number of coupling members 12, a sectionalrim 13, which is connected to the spokes by the 'coupling members 12 andreceives the solid rubber tire or tread member 111-. |The hub 10consists, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, in a body portion 15 and a pairof circular plate membersl, which are arranged in the central portion ofthe hub and in parallel spaced relationto each other, so that theysubstantially wedge-shaped spacing block 20 pis interposed between theinner ends of the springs, having its outer terminal extending y, APatented Unt. 226, 19,15..

Application ledvlllay 29, 1914. Serial No. 841,904. l

to the connecting bolt 19. It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1 thatthe extreme inner ends'ofthe spacing blocks 20 are enlarged, asindicated at 21, and that the ed les of these enlarged portions 21 areinwar lyv vand 18 are spread so that each spoke is in conformationsubstantially Y-shaped, the spacing block and inner portions of themembers 17 and 18'constituting the stem of y,the Y, and the outerportions of the springs J17 and 18 which lie beyond the connecting bolt19 constituting the arms of the Y. The

upper terminals of the spring arms are held in spread relation by thecoupling members 12, to which they are pivotally connected.

The coupling members 12 are all substantially identical in construction,and it is deemed necessary, therefore, to describe only one of them indetail, for which purpose reference will now be had particularly to Fig.6. As shown in this figure, each coupling includes a pair of'terminalyoke members 23 and 24, and a channel-shaped bridge 25 .which is castwith the members 23 and 24 and'serves to rigidly space and eonnet thesemembers. A Each ofthe yokes 23 and 24 is v substantially U-shaped in itspreferred embodiment, and is provided at the lower terminals of its arms26 with the alined bearings 27. The adacent terminals of the bearings 27of each yokeA 23 and 24 are spaced a' suflicient distance to permit themto snugly receive the outer terminals of the spring arms, yas best shownin Fig. 4. Upon reference to this figure, it will be seen'that the outerterminals of the spring arms are connected tothe yokes 23 and-24 by apivot bo1t128 which is passed through-,the alined bearings 27 andreceives the terminal rolled ear or tbe 29, which is formed on the spoke.arm inthe well known manner. The bight portion of each of the yokemembers 23 and 24 is provided with a tubular bearing30. These members 30of the two yokes 23 and 24 arelongitudinally alined and receive a pivotbolt 31 which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, serves to connect the meetingterminals of the various sections which constitute the rim memberThisrim member 13, as stated, c onsists 1n a number of channel-shapedsections, each of which, as shown in Fig. 1, is

4 in length substantially equal to the distance between theouterterminals of the members .12. Each section of the rim is, as bestshown in Fig. 2, formed 1n two pieces, one of which,

indicated by the numeral 33, consists of an arcuate base Aplate 34 andan arcuate u standing flange 35, the outer edge 'of whic indicated at36,-1s directed inwardly to engage over the circumferential bead 37 ofthe solid rubber tire '14. The other piece of each rim section consistsin a locking flange 38 which is engageable with the othercircumferential bead 39 of the tread member 70 14. Each of the lockingflanges 38 is provided on its inner edge with a pair of integralattaching lugs 40. These lugs 40 of each of the members 38 are aperturedto receive bolts 41, which are threaded into the legs 42 formed on theedge of the base plate 34 and extend inwardly therefrom.

Upon reference to Fig. 2, it will be apparent that the bolts 41 serve torigidly connect the locking flanges 38 to the base plates 34, so

and that, when in proper' position with re- .fspect to each other, thebase plates 34 and `flanges 35 form an arcuate channel for the,reception of the inner face of the circumferential beads'37 and 39 ofthe member 14. 85

It will also be seen that the various sections of the rim, whenpivotally connected in the manner to be hereinafter set forth, form anannular channel to receive the tread member and properly hold it inposition on the spokes. The base plates of each of the rim sections'are,as previously explained, adapted to be ypivotally connected by the boltmembers 31 vwhich extend between the bearings 30 of the couplingmembers. For this pur- 95 pose, each base plate is formed at eachterminal' with integral spaced hinge leaves, as indicated at 43 and 44in Fig. 5. The hinge leaves of the meeting terminals of the variousb'ase plates are staggered with respect to 1.0()

each other so that they may be properlyJ mated, as in Fig. 5, to bringtheirlterminal tubes or ears 45 into registration for the reception ofthe bolts 31. The combined length of the four members 45 of th'e meet-105y ing terminals of each rim section is approximately equal to thedistance between the confronting faces of the bearing members 30 of thecoupling yokes, so that the base plates of the rim sections will be heldagainst latv.eral movement during the use of the wheel.

As a means for protecting the hinge leaves 43 and 44 of the base platesagainst exposure to mud or the like, I arrange in the channelshapedbridge' member 25 of each of the cou- 115 pling yokes, a channel-shapedleaf spring 46 and a strip of sheet rubber or some other similar fabric,as indicated at 47, which provide a guard. The member 47 is interposedbetween the spring 46 and the members 45 12() and, as shown in Fig. 4,obviously serves to protect these members 45 against mud and the like.Rivets or some equivalent fastening devices, indicated at 48, may beemployed in properly securing the protecting rubber or fabric 47 to thespring member 46.

I have found that it is desirable to protect the inner face of the treador tire member 14 against the wear which would ordinarily result fromthe swinging of the rim sections on thei'r connecting bolts 31, and forthis purpose have'provided a metallic liner for the rim 13. This liner,which is illustrated vin detail in Fig. 3 and is designated by thenumeral 49, is formed from relatively light resilient sheet metal, Whichis struck u or stamped at equi-distantly spaced points to provide thechannels 50. It will be seen,

. particularly upon reference to Fig. 1, that when the liner 49, whichis annular in shape, is seated on the base plates 34 of thecouplingsections, there will be provided at the junctions of the severalrim sections a channel in which may be received the tie or body portions51 of the lll-shaped clip members shown in Fig. 3. By inserting the bodyportions 51- of these clips in the channels defined between the upstruckmembers' 50 and the base plates 34, it is obvious that the' clips areheld against circumferential shifting in the rim and are alsoheldagainst outward movement therefrom. The manner in Which the terminalhook-shaped portions 52 of the g U-shaped clips are engaged with themem- 25 bers 37 and 39 of the tire 44 will be readily appreciated uponreference to Fig. 1, in

which' dotted lines lindicatel the vassembled position of the clips.

From the foregoing referenceto Fig. 2 particularly, it Will be obviousthat if the wheel is bearing a heavy load the arms of the Y-shaped spokemembers will yield when the portion of the-tread memberwhich:isiinmediately adjacent them lcomes into engagement with theroadbed. '1t is to pe explained, however, that While the arms o thespokes will yield sufficiently te the load to absorb the major portionof the shocks to which the Wheel is subjected .when passing over a roughor uneven road, they are designed so that there Will be ,nocontinuedrebound or vibration of the various springs when a rut or other foreignobject in principal features of my invention, and one I fied forms of myWheel, as shown iny Figs.

which has proved inpractice to particularly adapt the Wheel for .use inconnection vvith heavy motor trucks as vvell as pleasure cars. ,y Intaking up the description of the modi- 7, 8 and 9, it may be Well toexplain before going intothe structural details of the modications'thatythese modified Vforms are all" vconstructedasvregards Vtheir rimsand hubs in the same manner as the preferred form of" the Wheel.These'modified forms of Figs. 7,

description, and uponv l shown.

8 and 9 differfrom the preferred form 4only in the arrangement of thespring spoke `members and the attaching yokes and clips which areemployed in connecting the spokes to the rim. lt will be observed uponreference to Figs'. 7, 8 and 9 that in each modified form of theinvention there is provided a tire 53, a rimwhich consists in a numberof pivotally united sections 54 similar to the members 13 of thepreferred forni' of the invention, and a hub 55, also similar to thecorresponding member 10 of the pre'- ferred form. For pivotally unitingthe rim sections 54 of the modified .forms of my invention shown inFigs.'7, 8 and 9, I employ either the coupling yoke shown in Fig. 10 orthe device shown in Fig. 12. The coupling yoke of Fig. 10 includes asubstantially U-shaped body portion 56, the arms 57 of which areapertured, as at 58, to receive the pivot bolt which is insertedVthrough the hinge lugs of the meeting terminalso'f the A,

rim sections l54. To the underside of the member 56 is secured, as byrivets, indicated at 59, a substantially U-shaped/ clip 60, the

.65 which are enlarged at each side so4 that a pair of apertures,indicated `at 66 and 67', may be formed in each arm of the clip. Thenecessity of having tWo boltV receiving apertures in each arm of theclip 64 arises when the spokes of the Wheel are arranged in the Amannerdisclosed in Fig. 9.

In the modified `form of theAv inventionv shown in Fig. 7, the spokeslare'arranged with their Wide surfaces extending at right angles to theplane ofthe Wheel, as' clearly.

The Spokes are arranged in pairs, as indicated at 68 andl69 in Fig. 7.The one spoke 68 ofeach pair is secured to one of the couplings 56 by apivot bolt 70, While the other spoke 69 of each pair is connected by abolt 71 to a`U-shapedclip 72 which is secured to the approximatemiddle-of a rim section 54.- The U-shaped clip 72is 'of the form shownin Fig. 11. ln the modification of Fig. 7 the spoke. o8and 69 oftheadjacent pairs are connected intermediate their length as by a boltor clamp, indicated at 73. Theinner terminals ofeach pair of spokes aresecured by a single bolt 74 between the' plates T5-of the hub, which aresimilar to ,the plates 16 of the preferred form of the invention. 1 l iIn/the modification illustratedin Fig. 8, 1; also employ pairs of leafsprings for spokes. The individual .springs of each l rim section 54 issupported by a pair of pair, designated by the numerals 76 and 77,

are -secured at their inner terminals by a. single bolt 78 between theplates 75 of the hub 55, and are secured at their outer terminals to thecoupling members 56 at opposite ends of a rim section 54. These leafspring members 7 6 are also'arranged, as in Fig. 7, with their widesurfaces extending at right angles to the plane of the wheel. In theform of my invention shown in Fig. 9, the springs are also arranged inpairs, the individual springs of each pair being designated by thenumerals 79 and 80.` In this form ofthe invention, a pair of springs isconnected bypivot bolts 81 to each coupling member4 63, so that eachterminal of each leaf springs. -Bolts or clamps 82 are em- .ployed inconnecting the adjacent springs of each adjacent pair. y

In the three modified forms of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7, 8and 9, I employ spacer blocks 83 between the lower terminals of theadjacent springs so that the springs may be held against abnormalyielding when sustaining a shock.

While I'preferably employ as a means for holding the tire 14 in positionon the rim, the members 35 and 38, I have found it desirable in someinstances to substitute for these fastening means the form of fasteningdevice'illustrated in detail in Figs. 13 and 14. Referring now to these`figures, it will be seen that in this modification the base plates 84lof the rim sections, whircvhcorrespond with the members 34 of the`preferred form of the invention, are provided on their edges wit h'theupstanding, circumferentially kspaced lugs 85E These lugs are, bentinwardly at telr upper term1nal s,\, as indi-l cated at'86 in Fig. 13,so that theyj may engage over'the wire ropes or cables" 87 which arewound around the tire oneach side thereof and in engagement with thebeads of the tire. It will\ be lobvious that when the wire cables orropes 87 have been applied to the beads ofthe tire, they are held in thedesired locking relation thereto by the lugs 85. It is also to beinotedthat in the modified employed for preventing Wear of the tire` throughengagement with the hinged terminals of the rim sections.

Having 'thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A.vehicle wheel including a hub, a

plurality of spokes, .a rim consisting of a` plurality of channel-shapedsections, hinge leaves formed at the terminals of Aeach rim section,'coupling members for connecting- .the rim sections, each of saidcoupling members including a channel-shaped bridge memberand asubstantially U-shaped yoke4 carried by each terminal thereof, each ofsaid yokes having a bolt receiving bearing, a bolt extending through thebearings of the yokes and through the hinge leaves of the rim sections,a channel -shaped leaf spring 'seated in the bridge member, a sheet ofpacking material interposed between the hinge leaves and the leafspring, and bolts pivotally connecting the terminals of 'the spokes tothe arms of the coupling yokes.

2. .A vehicle wheel including a hub, a plurality 'of spokes radiatingfrom the hub, each of said spokes including yieldable elements connectedintermediate their ends and having their respective /extremitiesdiverging with the inner extremities of said elements connected to thhub, blocks filling the space between the/ inner extremities of theelements' of the spokes, coupling yokes pivotally connected tothe outerextremities of the elements of the spokes, and a rim carried by saidyokes.

3. A vehicle Wheel including a hub, a plurality of spokes radiating fromthe hub, a coupling member swingingly connected to the outer extremityof each of said spokes and including a bridge piece, a sectional. rimhaving hinge leaves swi gingly connected to said members, and a guardcarried by each of said bridge pieces and arranged therebetween and theadjacent hinge leaves of the r1m.

- 4. A vehicle wheel includinga hub, a plurality of spokes radiatingtherefrom, a coupling member carried by the outer extremity of eachof-f'said spokes and including a bridge piece, a sectional rim havinghinge leaves swingingly connected to said members, and a channel shapedspring carried by each of said bridge pieces and interposed therebetweenand the adjacent hinge leaves of the rim.

5. A vehicle wheel including a hub, a plurality of spokes'radiating fromthe hub, coupling members carried by the outer extremities of saidspokes and each including a bridgepiece, a sectional rim having hingeleaves swingingly connected to said members, a yieldable element carriedby each of said bridge pieces, and a packing interposed between each ofsaid yieldable elements and `the adjacent hinge leaves of the rim.

. 6. A vehiclewheel including a hub, a plurality of spokes radiatingfrom the hub and each having diverging outer extremities, a couplingmember including terminal yokes joined by a bridge piece carried by eachof said spokes with the said yokes swingingly connected to the divergingouter ends thereof, a sectional rim provided with mating hingeJ leavesat the contiguous ends of the sections thereof, a bolt extending betweenthe yokes of each of said members and swingingly supporting theyadjacent hinge leaves of said sections, l and a guard carried by each ofsaid bridge pieces and interposed 'therebetween and the contiguous hingeleaves of the rim.

7 A vehicle wheel including a hub, a plurality of spokes radiatingtherefrom, a sectional rim swingingly connected to the outer extremitiesof the spokes with the contiguous ends of adjacent sections disposed inspaced relation, a liner fitting within the rim, and a plurality ofclips engaging the liner and filling the space between contiguous endsof said sections.

8. A vehicle wheel including a hub having a plurality of spokesradiating therefrom, a sectional rim swinginglysupported by the outerextremities of said spokes with contiguous ends 'of adjacent sectionsdis posed in spaced relation, a liner Iitting with- 1n the rim, and aplurality of4 clips embrac- Copies mi this patent may be obtained for vecents each, by addressing'the in g the liner and filling the spacebetween contiguous ends. of said sections.-

9. A vehicle' wheel including'a hub havranged with contiguous ends ofadjacentl sections disposed in 'spaced relation, a liner fitting withinthe rim and provided withla plurality of channels,` and a plurality ofclips fitting within. said channels and filling the space betweencontiguous ends of said sections.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two.-witnesses.Y,

ARTHUR J. ANDERSON. [-L.s.] Witnesses:

lRoi* DUNLAP, lI'Rvme W. KELLEY.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

plurality of spokes radiating there-

